Major General Robert Mood, head of the UN’s Syrian Observer team that left last week, told Reuters that it’s “only a matter of time” until the government of President Bashar al-Assad falls in Syria.
“It is only a matter of time before a regime that is using such heavy military panel and disproportional violence against the civilian population is going to fall,” Mood told Reuters. Continue reading
Aleppo, the largest city in the country of Syria, has been hit by gunships as fighting in the country’s civil war intensifies, according to BBC reports.
Rebels have launched a major offensive against government forces in the city in an attempt to wrest control of the region. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that territorial gains by the rebels would help to create a “safe haven” for those opposed to the current Syrian regime. Continue reading
Government troops have stormed a Damascus district with tanks for the first time, five days on from the outbreak of
fierce clashes in the capital, a UK-based rights group has said. Continue reading
Syrian government forces have killed over 100 in the latest massacre related to the civil war situation in the country. The attack in the central Homs province is still sketchy on information as the government has tried to quell reports of the mass killing.
The Observatory for Human Rights reports that sources have confirmed over 100 people killed but only 30 have been positively identified. Activists now say government forces have killed over 17,000 people since the start of the uprising against Syrian President Bashir Assad. Continue reading
UN envoy Kofi Annan has developed a new plan for Syria which includes a national unity government aimed at bringing political change to the war-torn nation. Russia, a key opponent to military intervention in the nation’s civil war, is reportedly in favor of Annan’s proposal.
According to western diplomats who have seen the plan, a cabinet will be made of members of the opposition and the current government but no one would who undermine the credibility of the body. Continue reading
After being targeted by gunfire, Maj. Gen. Robert Mood announced his decision to suspend all operations of the UN Observer Team in Syria.
There have been at least ten direct fire incidents on UN personnel and nine UN vehicles were struck in attacks over the last week. Continue reading
The head of the UN Oberservers in Syria is stating that neither side in the country’s civil war is willing to have a peaceful transition and that violence is increasing.
“Violence over the past 10 days has been intensifying,” Major General Robert Mood said at a Friday press conference. “[There is] a push toward advancing military positions.”
General Mood said the UN is focusing on the civilians in the country and trying to make sure their pain and suffering is addressed. Continue reading
The head of UN peacekeeping has declared that Syria is now in a state of civil war.
“Clearly what is happening is that the government of Syria lost some large chunks of territory,” Herve Ladsous told reporters outside the UN in New York. Asked by a reporter if Syria was in a state of civil war, Ladsous said “Yes, I think we can say that.” Continue reading
UN observers and at least one BBC reporter have found evidence of a massacre in the Syrian city of Qubair. Reports of the massacre leaked out from various rebel sources but government troops had been blocking access by the UN to the town.
On Thursday, reporters and UN officials came under fire when they attempted to enter the town. Continue reading
UN monitors are being blocked from the site of an apparent government-led massacre of 78 people by Syrian army forces. Mission commander Robert Mood said the Syrian army is stopping UN staff at checkpoints and turning them back before reaching the city of Qubair. Activists report government troops bombarded Qubair, a village of less than 30 houses, located 12 miles northwest of Hama. Continue reading
